Antoine Griezmann celebrates his goal at Mestalla that gave Atlético three points. /
Barça suspects that the Frenchman has been a substitute in the three league games because Atlético does not want to pay the 40 million clause at the end of the course
Despite the long-suffering victory at Mestalla that mitigates the pain of the defeat at the Metropolitano against Villarreal, there is a strange atmosphere at Atlético and a lot of fear at Cholo Simeone due to last-minute movements in the transfer market, with rumors of departure that affect players like Griezmann, Carrasco and Saúl. Lodi left, on loan to Nottingham Forest, and in his place Sergio Reguilón arrives on loan for a year, from Tottenham, where he was residual for coach Antonio Conte.
Precisely, Griezmann’s third consecutive substitution confirms that there is trouble surrounding the French player, who continues to be talked about. Once again, ‘the Little Prince’ re-entered the field of play after 60 minutes and was decisive with that lucky goal that tipped the balance in favor of the colchoneros. Cholo Simeone has always said that he considers him key, but the club’s delicate economic situation conditions him.
According to the agreement reached between the entities last summer, Atlético will have to pay 40 million to Barça in the event that it plays 50% of the matches in which it is available. Last season he played a minimum of 45 minutes in 81% of the commitments, so everything seemed to indicate that the agreed condition would be fulfilled and, at the end of this campaign, Antoine would become part of the red and white squad for all purposes .
At the beginning of this course, however, everything has changed. Griezmann has been a substitute in the three initial league games and has played less than half an hour per game. The Barça board is convinced that Simeone has received orders so that he is not a starter, but obviously the Argentine coach denies that someone has told him that Antoine is not in the game. Griezmann? As long as he manages to respond like he is, having him on the pitch is very important to us. I understand that you have to put it on when it suits the team best », he reflected in the guts of Mestalla.
The accounts are clear. If Griezmann plays more than half of some 15 games, although the final amount will depend on how far Atlético reaches in all competitions, that 40 million clause will be activated. It is a small amount and that generates a certain calm in Barça, convinced that what Atlético wants is to renegotiate that money downwards with the veiled threat that in June they will not have to pay and the French will return to the Camp Nou. At Barça, they trust that the calendar, with a match every three days until the World Cup in Qatar, plays in their interests. The rotations will be necessary and it is assumed that Griezmann will act more times from the beginning.
